Confucius Camp, Qufu, 2014

This unique itinerary offers an insight into the teachings of arguably the most influential thinkers in China, Confucius and his protege Mencius. Set in Confucius's hometown of Qufu, two and a half hours from Beijing, this group trip combines an immersion language program, lectures from a prominent Confucian scholar and sightseeing of Confucius's hometown and surroundings - all packed into a two week period.

Included in this program is the following:

Confucius Camp, Qufu, 2014

As China is developing and more and more students are interested in coming to China, the levels of support required by students is changing.  We understand that sometimes it can be more difficult and stressful than expected when trying to relocate to China; however, we also understand that sometimes students don't require the full package support provided by CSA. For those students who prefer just a bit of assistance with a particular aspect of their program, we also want to make sure you have the backup needed – regardless of where you may need the support. Enter... CSA's living in China support packages (to the rescue!).

If you opt to forego our full package assistance for studying Chinese in China (you study abroad rockstar, you!), you can also select our services à la carte. There are 3 different options to choose from:

Chinese University Application Assistance Package Only (US$150)

The CSA Chinese university application assistance package is designed for students who are looking for an independent experience in China, but would like a little help with the paperwork beforehand. We will assist with making your application to any university in Beijing, Shanghai, or other Chinese cities and advise on all queries before you get here.

The application you fill out for attending university in China is quite different than the format, style, or expectations of the kind of apps you are used to. Let CSA help coordinate your application to your Chinese university of choice, retrieve your application materials and acceptance letters, and coordinate safe mailing procedures from China direct to your doorstep. For a nominal fee, you can free yourself of the worry of "getting in" or not!

What services are included?

We're glad you asked! Students who sign up for this package can expect...

More information

If you're ready to study Chinese in China but paperwork gives you a headache, this assistance package has your name on it. Let us help your life in China starts off on the right foot (and at the right university, no one likes to walk into a classroom they're not supposed to be in!). Feel free to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions. 

Or purchase this package here! (US$150)

Help On Arrival Package (US$500)

What is more fun than getting off a plane in a new country and trying to figure out how to get to your dorms or apartment? Not many things, but if that sounds like an added stress to studying abroad, this is the package for you. With CSA's airport pick up and transfer package, you'll be able to land in China and get where you need to be (without all the headaches of figuring out public transit systems or risks of getting ripped off by your taxi driver!). We'll also show you around, introduce you to other CSA students and be available for your whole stay in case you run into any problems - it is like an insurance policy, we're there if you need us!  

For those arriving in China and looking for a little help in navigating your first trip into the city, you're in luck. If you are not confident in your Chinese skills, communicating something as simple as where you'd like to go with your cabbie can be a monstrous task.

Let CSA do the dirty work for you, and help make your first moments in this fascinating country special, not stressful.

What services are included?

CSA wants to ensure the transition to life abroad is a smooth one - this program includes...

What's NOT included?

If any of these additional services listed below sound appealing to you, you might consider our additional assistance packages or a full-support program while studying Chinese in China.

More information

Ready to take that giant leap into the great unknown and move abroad to China? With the help of CSA, you'll be able to do it without missing a beat. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions!

Or purchase this package here! (US$500)

Find An Apartment Assistance Package (US$500)

We are constantly working on the best way to help students get out to China. In recent years the price of accommodation in China has significantly increased, but at CSA we can’t and won’t lower the standards of where we are willing to place our students when they sign up for CSA apartments. What we can do is help students out who are on a budget. This might mean they are willing to live in slightly less appealing apartments that we couldn’t usually offer, or even shared apartments with 3 or 4 other people in them. As a way of trying to help out new arrivals in China, we’ve put together a Housing Help options for those straight off the plane.

How It Works

Sign up for the "Find An Apartment" option with your CSA Program and we’ll be there at the airport to pick you up on arrival in China as usual. We’ll then take you to whatever hotel or hostel you have booked. If you need advice on where to stay before you arrive, just let us know and we can recommend plenty of good options depending on your budget! We’ll arrange a time to meet up with you over the next day or so to start the housing hunt. You’ll be assigned a CSA staff member who will take you around for the next 2 days acting as your translator and help you contact as many local agents as possible. They will be available for you for two days, each an 8 hour day. After the two days, we’ll have taken you around the area and put you in contact with as many agents as possible so you should be set to go. We’ll still be available after these two days over the phone though if you need any more help.

Please note that the housing rental system in China is a little different, typically the agents don’t keep the keys so expect long days and a lot of waiting. We advise that you bring a book or something to keep you occupied. Or you can just practice your Mandarin with the CSA staff member to give you a head start before your classes begin!

Have you already organized your own housing, but are nervous about any issues that may come up? No problem, sign up for our Property Management Package and we'll throw in 24hour phone support for any housing issues you may encounter. We will assist with any problems as they arise and provide assistance to get the problem solved in the quickest and most efficient way.

Trying to navigate rentals and tenancy in our home countries is hard enough as it is. Tack on a language you aren't fluent in, a foreign system, and different cultural expectations and you're in for a real headache (and the potential for being scammed). Instead of relying on some joe schmoe you found in the local classifieds, let CSA roll up their sleeves and get down to business. We'll help with your billing and setting up your utilities and communicate with your Chinese landlord on your behalf, leaving you with the task of simply moving in and turning your new house into a home.

What's more, our services don't just stop there - should any issues arise during your stay in China (think: late-night power outages or a broken refrigerator) we've got your back. We'll help you through the thick of it and coordinate with the local servicemen to ensure your needs are met. Let us help you make your life in China a little easier.

What services are included?

More information

Renting in China can be a difficult process for even the most advanced Chinese-foreign language speaker; the intricacies of the system are even more difficult to explain to outsiders. CSA's collective experiences living in China have us prepped and ready to tackle the real-estate scene head-on in your behalf. Or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions!

Or purchase this package here! (US$500)

Check out what the summer of 2015 could have in store for you! For just US$1,900, you can add this comprehensive tour of China to your study program in Beijing or Shanghai! Travel the Middle Kingdom the CSA way and get a summer experience you will never forget!

THURS 23 JULY - BEIJING
The fun begins! Shanghai students arrive to Beijing and you get to meet your travelling companions over a tasty Chinese dinner.

FRI 24 JULY - BEIJING
Start the travel portion of your program with THE must-see attraction of Beijing. Wear your sneakers and comfy clothes, we are hiking along the Great Wall of China! After we get back and freshen up, we'll head to the sprawling imperial gardens of the Summer Palace. Wrap up day one with a delicious Beijing (Peking) duck dinner.

SAT 25 JULY - BEIJING
Step back into history with a trip to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. We will also climb Jingshan Park for an incredible view of the imperial palace from a bird's eye view. This will be followed by a rickshaw tour of the ancient hutongs (narrow alley) to see how Beijing people lived, and are still living! Enjoy dinner with a local family, and then we'll catch a Chinese Acrobatics show to end the day.

SUN 26 JULY - BEIJING
Take the morning to explore the cultural city of Beijing and make sure you get to see your favourite hot spots, whether it's haggling in the markets, testing your speed in the Olympic Village or exploring the various exhibitions at 798 Art District. In the evening we will depart Beijing on the overnight train to Xi’an. Be sure to pack some snacks and entertainment for the journey!

MON 27 JULY - XI’AN
Arrive in Xi’an bright and early! After check-in, get ready for a day of sightseeing! Make sure to take your camera as we visit the impressive Terracotta Warriors and learn about how and why they were built. In the evening we will make our way to the Big Goose Pagoda to watch water dance at the fountain display.

TUES 28 JULY - XI’AN
Another big day ahead! Visit the Drum and Bell Towers and the Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarter before we make our way to the Old City Wall. Here we will cycle around the wall to view the ancient city from above. We then make our way to the airport to depart for the next destination, Yangshuo.

WED 29 JULY - YANGSHUO
Today is all about outdoor adventure. Take a cruise along the Li River, and spend some time biking through the Yangshuo countryside. After lunch, spend the afternoon exploring a range of options in the Yangshuo area: visiting caves, hiking or even swimming in the river! After dinner, we will take a boat ride to watch cormorant fishers.

THURS 30 JULY - YANGSHUO
Time for some climbing as we hike around Moon Hill, a hill with a semicircular hole through the middle! Experience some incredible panoramic views of the surrounding countryside from the peak of the mountain. After the hike you have the option to do any additional activities that you may not have been able to squeeze in the day before.

FRI 31 JULY - GUILIN
Today is all about rice! We will travel to the incredible rice fields of Longji and see how they have been built in to terraces on the side of mountains. The terraces are also known as the "Dragon's Back" due to their scaly appearance. After lunch in the mountains, we will then move on to the beautiful water town of Suzhou.

SAT 01 AUGUST - SUZHOU
Explore the city's beautiful canals, stone bridges, pagodas and gardens. It's called the "Venice of the East" for good reason! In the evening we will take the short trip to Shanghai to see Nanjing Road and cruise down the Huangpu River for a spectacular scene of The Bund at night. Phew, big day!

SUN 02 AUGUST - SHANGHAI
Start the day with a brief history of Shanghai at the Urban Planning Museum. After we will climb the tallest building in Shanghai, the World Financial Centre, to get an incredible view through glass floors of the cosmopolitan area of Pudong! You will then have some free time to shop-til-you-drop at the vast markets. In the evening we will get together one last time for a big group dinner before we wave each other off and say 'zaijian'.

MON 03 AUGUST - HOME!
This is the recommended date to travel home. If you are flying from Beijing, we will be taking an early morning bullet train to Beijing which should arrive by 3pm. Alternatively you can fly home directly from Shanghai. The alternative is to start your language program after your travel program! Ask us for course options!

Summer Study and Travel Program 2015

Summer holidays are never as long as you would like them to be, so the key is doing as much as possible to make your summer fun, memorable and constructive!

If you are looking to combine Chinese language learning with a fun and experience-filled trip around China, then our Summer Study and Travel program may be the answer.

Learning the Chinese language is but scratching the surface of China's culture and history. China is vast and diverse and so our Summer Study in China Programs are specially designed to combine first-class Mandarin learning courses with insightful and fun-filled travel at some of China’s most renowned and beautiful destinations.

Our Summer Study and Travel programs are split into two parts: the study and the travel.

It’s as simple as that!

China Study Abroad summer programs are designed to give you the best possible insight into everything China has to offer.

The travel portion covers some of China’s most famous destinations including Xi’an (home of the Terracotta Warriors) and Guilin (famous for its mountains and rivers, and widely acknowledged as China’s most beautiful and scenic area).

The group will also travel to both Beijing and Shanghai, meaning that regardless of where you choose to undertake the study portion of your program, you will get to experience both of China’s most famous and prominent cities.

*Programs in July and August are open to students who are 15 and over.